How We Design Technical Gear That Doesn’t Suck: Hiking Pants Edition

Born from frustration, designed with purpose. How we reimagined the hiking pant.

When we started SENIQ, we had one goal. One focus. Really one destination in mind.

Partly because it was our first venture (and tackling more than one gigantic goal felt terrifying), but mostly because it felt right in our guts:

Make great f*cking product. And we’d figure out the rest.

It’s probably not the “right” way to start a brand. We didn’t spend hours at the very beginning crafting mission statements or obsessing over fonts. We just had a feeling that if the product delivered (really delivered) everything else could fall into place. So that’s where we started. Maybe because of the greats in the outdoor industry (Arcteryx & Patagonia are the holy grail) who have deep roots in product innovation. It seems like these brands built products first and later found themselves inside of a brand & business. This seemed like a logical path forward on what seemed like a very delusional journey ahead.

The Pant That Started It All

My co-founder and I didn’t grow up needing technical gear. We grew up in the heart of Ohio… nowhere near mountain towns or gear garages. So when we moved to Salt Lake City, being immersed in the outdoor apparel world became a total light bulb moment.

Suddenly, we were surrounded by elevation and endless adventure. Like true Midwest girlies deprived of altitude in our youth (the drama is valid once you’ve lived in a mountain town), we made it our mission to try every outdoor activity in sight. We hiked, biked, trail-ran, floated rivers, skied, snowboarded— we even curled?

We were kids in a candy shop of outdoor recreation. And we fully expected the outdoor gear to match the energy of this buzzing landscape, just how our Pilates sets and road-running gear matched the energy of our hometown. This was far from the reality. Although living in the mountains was a dream, the worst part of the experience was actually getting dressed. And the hardest thing to find? A hiking pant that fit, held up on the trail, & aesthetically felt like us.

Why We Built Our Own

The hiking pant is the item that inspired SENIQ. As women, we know the universal struggle: finding a pant that fits both your waist and your ass. It feels impossible—and it’s something we spend countless hours (and paychecks) trying to solve through our lives whether it's the perfect pair of denim, a great office pant, or a hiking pant. We tried hundreds of hiking pants (and since we worked at Backcountry, we had access to pretty much every ‘great’ pant on the market). All of them fell short.

Beyond the fit issues, the leg shapes were off, the rises were wrong, the colors felt dated, and the styling was nonexistent. The “technical” options lacked taste, and the style-forward ones couldn’t perform. It felt like we were being asked to choose between taste or technicality. A compromise we weren’t willing to make.

So we didn’t.

The Trailmix Cargo Pant was the first product brief we developed when concepting SENIQ. It’s a pant we’ve been dreaming of for years and is truly our muse.

Our very first product brief for the SS24 launch collection (previously the Oasis Pant)

What Happened Next

Since launch (about 12 months ago, and with 7 of those months completely sold out) we’ve sold over 1,000 pairs of this pant. It has an average rating of 4.8 stars. The quantitative metrics pop-off. But the qualitative insights are the one’s worth holding onto. There is an incredible moment that happens each time a new customer tries this pant on. Her eyes completely light up, her chin lifts slightly, and she drops a jaw. Literally. It’s shocking to women that a hiking pant can fit like this, feel like this, and look like this. It’s these micro moments that truly keep us going.

The process of building products that matter isn’t pretty.

It took 12 months to perfect this single pant. In terms of industry standards, this is slow as fuck. Some of our favorite brands whip out single styles in the matter of weeks or a few short months. Our journey was made up of 4 months of sourcing the perfect weight fabric with the right technical properties (water resistance, 4 way stretch, & ultimate breathability) to 6 months of fittings. Sewing takes about 2 weeks since our units are on the smaller end plus additional shipping time. Creating a product that matters can feel like it takes a lifetime. We questioned our ‘slowness’ heavily throughout the process. But we trusted the journey and now understand why our stretch-woven baby needs such a long baking time.

The prototype process (from sketch, to proto #1, all the way to final bulk production garment)

Finding The Fabric

Before we ever designed the pocket layout or picked a zipper pull, we spent 4+ months hunting down the perfect fabric. It had to stretch just enough, breathe like crazy, and hold up to scrambles, sit-downs, and road trips.

Our wishlist consisted of:

– 4-way stretch

– Water resistance without the plastic feel

– Matte finish with a twill line

– Breathable but structured

We tested different options and ended up developing our own with a mill partner to hit all the marks. No shortcuts. No compromises.

What Our Customers Are Saying

Every time someone tries on the Trailmix Pant, it’s like the world stops for a moment. We will never take this feeling for granted and it is what drives us to continue making excellent products that solve problems.

Here are a few recent reviews (straight off our website) that we keep close to our hearts:

“I get more compliments on these pants than any that I own. I actually wear them to work as well with a sweater and my docs in addition to outdoorsy things. They're so cute to dress up or hike in.”

“Thank you for taking the woman’s body into consideration when designing these pants - they are fabulous. I feel like I could conquer anything while wearing these! The stretch and style are chef’s kiss.”

“Finding an outdoor pant to fit my curves has always been a struggle…until now!”

A Shopper’s Quick Guide: What Makes a Great Hiking Pant

We didn’t just want a pant that looked good—we wanted one that performs.Here’s what to look for in a technical pant that actually works:

Keep an eye out for:

– ✅ Higher back rise than front (for bendy movement without pull)

– ✅ Gusseted crotch (prevents seam stress)

– ✅ Articulated knees (better motion, less bunching)

– ✅ Breathable yet structured fabric

– ✅ Zip pockets placed right

The little details matter. And so many brands skip them.

So, how do you create products that actually matter?

Start by defining what matters to your customer.

For our community, it comes down to three things: Fit. Function. Style. Non-negotiables. Especially for women who demand more from their gear. If we had to boil it down to three key focuses, it would be:

Build What You Crave

If you & your girlfriends are searching for it, chances are others are too.

If It Feels Too Different, You’re Probably Doing Something RightDiscomfort often signals originality. Most of our best-sellers gave us this stomach knot feeling of… ‘oh shit, is this too modern? too forward? Will anyone understand this?’. There is some magic to that feeling. Follow it fiercely.

Product Names Matter

People remember products they can feel in a word. Language sticks. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to name & claim your baby.

The Trailmix Pant is finally coming back. After four months of being sold out (we know… it’s killing us too 😅), we’re restocking in just two weeks.

We will never take this feeling for granted. The opportunity to innovate and solve problems through clothing for women to get outdoors. The chance to help women in the dressing rooms at REI find something that makes them feel confident and snatched. This is the dream.

Thank you for your patience, your love, and your relentless support. Stay ready, Trailmix is almost home.

With love from the SENIQ Route,

-Tina & Madi